Process and apparatus for the utilization of heat in oil-engines



H R. LUCKE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE UTILIZATION OF HEAT IN OIL ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16. 1920.

1,382,995, Patented June 28, 1921.

@GMWZZW ATTORNEYS.

urane arena? HERBERT R. LUCK'E, 0F DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO MOI'NTOSH & SEYMOUR. (20R- PORATION, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FUR THE UTILIZATION OF HEAT IN OIL-El l'G-INES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1921.

Application filed February '16, 1920. Serial No. 358,856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT R. LUCKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and tate of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for the Utilization of Heat in Oil-Engines, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates to an improvement in the process and apparatus for the utilization of waste or surplus heat of internal combustion engines, and particularly oil burning engines of the Diesel type.

In many localities, Diesel oil engines are at present operated with crude oil of 4:0 gravity as fuel, but-since the Diesel engine will operate satisfactorily on even lower or.

heavier grades of fuel, it is proposed by the present invention to separate by distillation the lighter and higher priced fractions of the crude oil and to supply the residue only of such distillation to the engine as fuel.

Furthermore in the present invention, the heat for distillation is obtained from the operation of the engine itself, 2'. e. by eflicient use of the exhaust gases thereof so that a suihcient'quantity of crude oil can be dis tilled off to bring at current prices, a suifi cient return to substantially pay for the crude oil used, whereby the engine may be operated for power purposes at practically no (pst for fuel;

lVhile a power plant of this description has wide application, yet it is particularly adapted for use in pumping stations of crude oil pipe lines and it is in connection with such a use that the present invention will be described.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in tl1e drawings,-

Figure l. is a plan in diagram of the present apparatus installed at a pumping station on an oil pipe line; i

Fig. 2' is an elevation of the apparatus also somewhat diagrammatic,.and with certain parts in section.

The separate parts of the apparatus are generally of standard or well known form and a re therefore illustrated conventionally Jor the sake of simplicity. The oil engine,

to be vaporized, and a heating chamber 7 'which heating chamber preferably entirely su-rrounds'the retort 6 and is connected by pipe 8 with the exhaust outlet 9 of the englue. The hot exhaust gases entering the chamber 7 through pipe 8 act to heat the retort 6 for vaporizing the oil and said gases are eventually discharged from the chamber 7'through an outlet pipe-13. 10 is a suitable hand valve for controlling the... passage of exhaust gases through, said pipe 8 and an outlet pipe 11 is provided to carry off any surplus exhaust gases, not needed for heating the retort 6.

TllGOil vapors from the retort 6 are conducted by pipe 7 14 and worms 14, 14: through one or more condensers, herein preferably shown as'two in number and said pipe has a discharge outlet 14', from which the conderylsed distillate is recovered. 16 indicates a thermostatically operated device preferably attached to the pipe 14 adjacent the heating" chamber which device by means of a suitable connection 17 operates a damper valve 18 located in the pipe 8 to regulate the admission of exhaust gases into the heating chamber 7 in accordance with the heat of the vapors being distilled. This thermostatically controlled device thus acts to determine the grade of distillate recovered and it is understood that it may be adjusted in the usual manner of such devices to determine the various fractions to be distilled.

A primary condenser indicated at 19 comprises the usual chamber containing the cooling medium 12 therein and throughv which the worm 1a of the distillate pipe 14 passes. A secondary condenser 21 is of similar construction and also contalns suitable cooling medium indicated at 22. The

cooling medium for the primary condenser 19 ispreferably the crude oil which is to be distilled andwhich is taken from the pipe line 5 through pipe This crude oil 12 after passing through the chamber of the condenser 19 and coming into heat exchanging relation. with the worm l l is warmed thereby and passes from said chamber 19 through pipe 20 into the retort 6. A float chamber 2a is preferably connected with the pipe 20 and is provided with the usual float operated lever having a connection 26 to "a valve '27 in the crude oil inlet pipe 23 to thereby regulate. the supply of crude oil to .Warm said incoming oil preparatory to its introduction into the evaporating retort 6.

The worm 29 emerges from the condenser 19 in the pipe29" which leads to the fuel inlet 2 of the engine 1.

The secondary condenser 2l is cooled in the ordinary manner by water enter-mg through. pipe 32. This cooling water 22 of the secondary condenser is preferably conducted from the upper part of said condenser through pipe 33 to the cooling chamher or water jacket (not specifically shown) of the oil engine 1, thereby assisting in maintaining said oil engine 1 heated to the proper temperature for its best efficiency.

The water after circulating through the water-jacket is preferably directly discharged therefrom through a suitable pipe (not shown) into a drain or sewer, whereby a constant circulation of water is 'maintained upon a proper quantity being ad mittedthrough the supply pipe 32; In this way the cold water admitted to'the c0ndenserby the pipe 32 cools the condenser pipe and at the same time the water thus admitted is raised to a suiiicient temperature to permit its being admitted to the water-jacket without unduly cooling the engine cylinder, While at the same time this Water as admitted to the water-jacket is of such temperatureto keep the engine cylinder from becoming overheated. It will readily be understood that by properly regulating the admission of cold water to the condenser the temperature of the Water sup plied to the water-jacket through the pipe 33 may be maintained substantially constant and at a proper temperature to suitably cool the engine cylinder.

It will be noted, that although the exhaust gases from the oil engine :are employed in an efficient manner to heat the Oll evaporating retort 6 which heat is suflicient .to vapor- "ize a considerable amount of oil nevertheless by preheating the oil before introduction into said retort 6, greater efficiency and a v greater amount of distillate is obtained. As

use in connection with a pumping station of a crude oil pipe line. The average pumping station operated witha Diesel oil engine,

handling 20,000 barrels of 450 gravity crude oil, requires as fuel for the engine approximately 480 gallons per day, which at present prices of $225 perbarrel amounts to a fuel expense of about $25.70 per day. It is estimated that the present apparatus will distil 35% of the crude oil supplied thereto and therefore in a plant normally requiring 480 gallons per day, it will be necessary to supply approximately 740 gallons so that the 65% of the undistilled residue theleoii will give the l80 gallons necessary to oper ate the engine. The cost of 74:0 gallons of crude oil per day at $2.25 per barrel is approximately $39.(54. The distillate or lighter fractions distilled off from the 7&0 gallons namely 35% thereof, amounting to 260 gal lons, will bring a price of not less than 15 (fifteen cents) per gallon, or $39.00 per day. In otherwords, the sale of the distilled fraction will bring a price approximately equal to the entire-cost of the crude oil-handled, enabling the powcrgof the'engine-"to be obtained at little or no cost for'fuel.

' It is obvious that various changes in the arrangement of the parts and modifications in the several features employed in the present apparatus may be eli'ected without avoiding the substance of the invention as covered in the following claims.

What I claim is- 1, In an apparatus for the utilization of heat of internal combustion engines, the combination with said engine of an oil still comprising a retort to contain the oil being distilled, means for heating the retort with-the heat given oil by said engine when. in operation, and means to conduct the undistilled residue from said retort to the fuel inlet of said engine.-

2. In an apparatus for'the utilization. of heat of internal combustion engines, the

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combination with said engine of an oil still comprising a retort to contain. the oil being distilled, means for heating the retort with the heat given off by saidengine when in operation, automatically operated means for controlling the heat of said retort, and means to contract the undistil Jd residue from said retort to the fuel inlet of said engine.

3. In an appa atus for the utilization of heat of internal combustion engines, the combination with said engine of an oil still comprising a retort to contain the oil being distilled, means for heating the retort with the heat given. off by said engine when in operation, a condenser for the oil vapors from said retort and means for conducting oil to be distilled first through said condenser as a cooling medium therefor and then from said condenser to the retort, means to conduct the undistilled residue from said retort to the fuel inlet of said engine.

4C. In an apparatus for the utilization of heat of internal combustion engines, the combination with said engine of an, oil still comprising a retort to contain the oil being distilled, means for heating the retort with the heat given off by said'engine when in operation, a condenser for the oil vapors from said retort and means for conducting oil to be distilled first through said condenser as a cooling medium therefor and then from said condenser to the retort, automatically operated means for controlling the supply of oil, and means to conduct the undistilled residue from said retort to the fuel inlet of said engine.

In an apparatus for the utilization of heat of internal combustion engines, the combination with said engine of an oil still comprising a retort to contain the oil being distilled, means for heating the retort with the heat given off by said engine when in operation, a. condenser for the oil vapors from said retort, means for conducting oil to be distilled first through said condenser as a cooling medium therefor and then from said condenser to the retort, and means to conduct the undistilled residue from said retort first through said condenser to be cooled therein and then to the fuel inlet of said engine. I

(5. In an apparatus for the utilization of heat of internal combustion engines, the combination with said engine having a water' cooled chamber, of anmoil still comprising a retort to contain the oil being distilled, means for heating the retort with the heat given off by said engine when in operation, a primary condenser for the oil vapors from said retort and means for conducting said oil to be distilled first through said condenser as a cooling medium therefor and then from said condenser to said retort, a

secondary condenser for said oil vapors arranged to be cooled by water and means for conducting water from said secondary condenser to the water cooled chamber of said engine.

7. In an apparatus for the utilization of heat of internal combustion engines, the combination with said engine, a pipe line for conducting oil and a pump operatedby said engine for forcing the oil. through said pipe line, of an oil still comprising a retort to contain oil being distilled, means for heating the retort from the heat given off from said engine when in operatitm, and means to con-- duct the undistilled residue from said retort to the fuel inletof said engine.

8. In an apparatus for the utilization of heat of internalcombustion engines, the cone bination with said engine, a pipe line for conducting oil and a pump operated by said engine for forcing the oil through said pipe line, of an oil still comprising a retort to contain oil being distilled, meansfor heating the retort from the heat given. off from said engine when in operation, a primary condenser connected with said pipe line to receive a supply of 011 therefrom as a cooling medium, a conduit for conducting oil from said primary condenserto said retort, a'secondary condenser arranged to be cooled by water and means for conducting water from said secondary condenser to the water cooled chamber of said engine, means for conducting the oil vapors successively through said primary .and secondary con densers for obtaining distillate therefrom, and means to conduct the undistilled residue of said oil from the retort first through said primary condenser to be cooled thereby and then to the fuel inlet of said engine.

9. In an apparatus for the utilization of heat of internal combustion engines, the. combination with said engine, a pipe line for conducting oil and a pump operatciil by said engine for forcing the oil through said pipe line, of an oil still comprising a retort to contain oil being distilled, a heating chamber surrounding the retort and means for conducting the exhaust gases of said engine through said heating chamber to heat said retort, and means to conduct theumlistilled residue from said retort to the fuel inlet of said engine. 1

11). In an apparatusfor the utilization of heat of interiml'combustiou engines, the combination with said engine having a water cooled chamber, a pipe line for conducting oil and a pump operated by said engine for forcing the oil through said pipe line, of an oil still comprising a retort to contain oil mary condenser connected with said pipe 1 line to receive a supply of oil therefrom a cooling medium, a conduit for conducting II? from,

combination with said engine, having a water cooled chamber, a pipeline for conducting oil and a'pump operated by said engine for,

forcing the oil through said pipe line, of an oil still comprising a retort to contain oil being distilled, a heating chamber surrounding the retort, and means for conducting the exhaust gases of said engine through said heating chamber to heat said retort, thermostatic means controlled by the heat Within said retort for regulating theadinission of 1 said exhaust gases to said heating chamber,

a primary condenser" connected with said pipeline to receive a supply of oil therefrom a cooling medium, a conduit for conductmg 011 from said primary condenser to said retort, a secondary condenser arranged to be the'coolingchamber or said engine, means for conducting the oil vapors from said retort successively through said primary and secondary condensers for obtaining a distillate,therefroni, and means to conduct the undistilled residue of said oil from the re tort first through said primary condenser and then to the :fuel inlet of said engine.

12/111 an apparatus for the utilization of heat of" internal combustion engines, the combination ivith said: engine havinga water cooled chamber, a pipe line for conducting oil and a pump operated bysaid engine for forcing the oil through said pipe line, of an oil still comj'irising a retort to'contain oil being distilled and means for heating the same from the heat given off from said engine wheni'n operation, aprimary condenser connected with said pipe line to'receive asupply of oil as a coolin'g rnedium, a conduit for conducting said :oil supply from trolled by the level of liquid in said retort for regulating the admission of oil thereto, a secondary condenser, arranged to be cooled by Water, and a conduit for conducting Water from said secondary condenser to thecooling chamber of said engine, means for conducting the oil vapors from said retort successively through said primary and second ary condensers forobtaining distillate thereand means to conduct the undistilled ,ducing fractional distillation of cooled by 'water,-and a conduit for conduct lng Water from said secondary condenser to said pr1- mar-y condenser to said retort, means coninlet ofsaid engine.

residue of said .oil from the retort first through said primary condenser and then to the fuel inlet of said engine. I

13. In an oil still, in combination with an oil engine used for pumping oil, a retort to contain the oil being distilled, means for heating theretort, a condenser for the oil ducting the undistilled residue from the still to the fuel inlet of the oil engine.

14:- The combination with an oil pipe line and an oil engine for pumping the oil through said pipe linefof an oil still for distilling oil obtained from said pipeline,

15. In combination Wltll a fuel oil pipe vapors from said retort, and means for con- I line and anenginefor pumplngoiltheiiee" through, means for drawing a supply of ffil oil from said pipe line, ,means .operated'by r from said engine, for 'prothe fuel oil fromthepipe line, and means the exhaust gases thus drawn 'for'utilizing the residue of said'oil remaining after distillation for operating the en 16. The method of utilizing the waste heat of'internal combustion engines which consists in subjecting a supply offuel oil to the heat from the exhaustgases of said on inc to therebyeiiect vaporization of the lig ter fractionsof said fuel oil, condensing said" lighter fractions as a distillate and conducting only the undistilled residue of said .fuel

supply to the fuel inlet of said engine. 17. The method of utilizing the .waste' he'atdof internal combustion engines which;

consists in subjecting a supply of fuel oil to the hatirom the exhaust gases of said engine to thereby eflect vaporization of the lighter fr ctions of said fuel oil, bringing said vapois into heat exchanging relation with said lighter fractions of said fuel oil, condensing said lighter fractions as a distillate and fuel supply. to thereby Warm said fuel supply and cool said.vapors,condensing bringing said undistilled residue into" heat.

exchanging relation with said fuel supply to thereby warm said fuel supply and cool said residue, and conducting only the 'undisstilled residue of said fuel supply to the fuel 19. The meth d of utilizing the waste messes heat of internal combustion engines which said lighter fractions as it distillate and consists in subjecting a supply of fuel oil bringing said undistilled residue into heat to the heat from the exhaust gases of said exchanging relation with said fuel supply engine to thereby effect vaporization of the to thereby Warm said fuelsupply and cool lighter fractions of said fuel oil, bringing said residue and conducting only the on said vapors into heat exchanging relation distilled residue of said fuel supply to the with said fuel supply to thereby warm said fuel inlet of said en ine. fuel supply and cool said vapors, co "lensing v HE. BERT Rn LUCKE. 

